Vertical venetian blind



Aug. 15, 1961 K. A. KLENZ 2,996,115

VERTICAL VENETIAN BLIND Origmal Filed Feb. 8. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. A ar/ ,4. lK/enz Liz/paw Aug. 15, 1961 K. A. KLENZ VERTICALVENETIAN BLIND 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Origmal Filed Feb. 8. 1955 i INVENTOR.l/ar/ A. M/enz 7Z4/w 9/ United States Patent 2,996,115 VERTICAL BLINDKarl A. Klenz, 379 Butterfield Road, San Anselmo, Calif. Originalapplication Feb. 8, 1955, Se No. 486,828, now Patent No. 2,869,636,dated Ian. 20, '1959. Divided and this application Ian. '19, 1959, Ser.No. 787,553

3 Claims. (Cl. -160-168) This invention relates to a Venetian blindconstruction and particularly to a so-called vertical Venetian blind inwhich the slats are held in a vertical rather than a horizontalposition.

The conventional Venetian blind is one in which the slats are retainedin a horizontal position and are supported by ladder tapes or whoserungs the slats rest. The slats are rotated about their longitudinalaxes for the control of light and they may be raised or lowered byraising or lowering a bottom rail with the result that the slats pile upone above the other on the bottom rail.

However, Venetian blinds may also be manufactured in a form in w 'ch theslats are held in a vertical position and are supported from their topsby a suitable mechanism. It is essential that the blinds be mounted insuch a manner that they may be turned about their vertical axes so thatlight may be controlled, and it is also desirable that the slats bemounted in such a. way that they may be drawn to one or both sides of awindow opening when desired Various means have heretofore been utilizedin connection with the support of Venetian blind slats which are hung ina vertical position. However, it is my opinion that none of them havebeen completely satisfactory. Many of them have utilized a substantialnumber of work ing parts, any one or few of which might result indifliculty of operation, assembly, or use. Moreover, most of them havebeen noisy to operate and many of them have been so constructed that theblinds were rotatable about their axes only when in one position andhave not been rotatable when in any other, as for example, fully orpartially drawn position.

It is an object of this invention to provide a Venetian blindconstruction which is simple to manufacture and extremely simple toassemble. It is a further object of this invent-ion to provide aVenetian blind of this character in which the slats may be rotatable atany position.

It is a further object of this invention to support the slats in such amanner that they are held rigidly with respect to their upper mountingand that they need not necessarily by jointed at their lower end.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from thefollowing specification taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 represents a side view of a Venetian blind incorporating myinvention.

FIGURE 2 represents a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 22 ofFIGURE 1 illustrating the means of supporting and rotating the Venetianblind slat.

FIGURE 3 represents a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 3-3 ofFIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 represents a detail similar to that shown in FIGURE 3 showing amodification of the means for supporting the drive mechanism and also inwhich the drive mechanism itself has been varied.

FIGURE 5 represents a modification of my invention and represents across sectional detail thereof similar to FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional detail of the modification illustrated inFIGURE 5.

' FIGURE 7 represents a modified type of support and represents across-sectional detail thereof similar to FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 8 represents a cross section taken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE7.

As illustrated generally in FIGURE 1 my device consists of a head railconstruction 10 and a plurality of slats 11 which are adapted to besuspended vertically therefrom. Suitable operating cords 12 and 13extend from the head rail and their purpose and mode of operation willmore fully hereinafter be described.

As illustrated particularly in FIGURE 2, the head rail 10 may beconstructed in the form of an elongated channel. The web 16 forms thetop and the two side portions 17 and 18 form the front and rear panelsrespectively. Formed integrally with the channel member 10 I haveprovided a pair of upwardly extending angle members 19 which provide anelongated slot 21 between their lips 22 and 23.

I have provided a plurality of mounting blocks 24 which are providedwith grooves 26. The lips 22 and 23 are adapted to engage the grooves 26so that the mounting blocks 24 may be slid longitudinally along the slot21. The mounting blocks 24 are drilled to provide a suitable mountingfor a shaft 27. The lower end of the shaft 27 may be recessed in themanner illustrated and provided with a tongue 28 which is adapted tocooperate with an opening 29 in the upper end of the slat 31. The slat31 may be hung-upon the shaft 27 simply by passing the tongue 28 throughthe opening 29 and then snapping the slat under the shoulders 30 andbehind the tongue 28 of the recessed portion of the shaft 27. This willresult in a relatively rigid construction so that as the shaft 27 isrotated about its vertical axis or is moved laterally along thelongitudinal axis of the top rail 10, the slat 31 will likewise be movedand will be held relatively rigidly in a vertical position.

The means for rotating the shaft 27 about its longi tudinal axisconsists of a toothed gear 32 which is suitably secured to the upper endof the shaft. The gear 32 meshes with a gear 33 which lies upon theupper sloping surface of the block 24 and which is held in predeterminedposition for rotation with respect to the block 24 by means of a raisedhub 34 formed integrally with the block 24. The toothed gears 32 and 33are in constant mesh. However, one portion of the gear 33 is also inconstant mesh with a toothed shaft 36 known as a pinion rod which, asviewed in FIGURE 2, is provided with radial teeth extending its fulllength with the result that regardless of the position of the gear 32with respect to the ends of the shaft 36, some of its teeth will be inconstant mesh with teeth on the member 33. It will be apparenttherefore, that when the shaft 36 is rotated, it will also cause themember 33 to rotate. Rotation of member 33 causes rotation of the member32 with the resultant rotation of the member 27 and slat 31.

The block 24 is provided with an upright lug 37 which is drilled andadapted to loosely fit around the member 36 in such a manner that itserves to keep the members 36 and 33 in constant mesh and yet does notbind the member 36. It will be appreciated that the member 36, beinggenerally in the form of an elongated shaft, may sag between its endsupports. The members 37 also serve to overcome this tendency to sag.

The blocks 24 are adapted to be connected by means of a suitable chain38 so that the distance between them will be limited. The two centerblocks are connected to the cords 12. When the cords 12 are drawn thecentral blocks are likewise drawn, and as the blocks are drawn from thecenter toward the ends of the assembly, they naturally engage successiveblocks and urge the same to full drawn position. When the central blocksare drawn toward each other, the chains 38 tend to draw successiveblocks into full closed position. The shaft 36 is adapted to be turnedin any suitable manner and may preferably be turned by means of suitablegearing which may be of any type.

It is apparent from the foregoing therefore that I have provided amechanism in which the means for turning the Venetian-blind is inconstant meshwith the operating mechanism so that regardless of theposition. of any block: 24 along the slot 21-, the slat- 31 which thatparticular block 24 may support may be rotated about its vertical;

axis.-

Inthe. modification illustrated in FIGURE 4, I have provided a similarblock 24a which is adapted to receive a short stud shaft 27a. The uppersurface of the block is likewiseslanted and is adapted to support a gear41 which is secured to the stud shaft 27a by means of a pair ofopposedsprings 42. The teeth of the gear 41 are in constant mesh with the teethof the shaft 36 so that upon rotation of the shaft 36, the gear 41- willbe likewise rotated and rotation of the gear 41 will be imparted to theshaft 27a by the spring 42. In this manner it will be apparent that Ihave provided a slanted gear 41 which.

serves the purpose generally served by both of the gears 32 and 33 inthe modification illustrated in FIGURES l to 3 inclusive. blind from thestud shaft 27a differs from the method of hanging as viewed in FIGURES lto 3 inclusive. For example, the shaft 43 which extends downwardly fromthe stud 27 may be flared outwardly in the form of a truncatedconeasgenerally indicated and may be engaged by a member 44, the upperportion of which is formed with agenerally inverted conical surfacewhich will cooperate with the similar conical surface on the member 43.The weight of the slat will cause the two conical surfaces to engage andthe frictional engagement between the two.

surfaces will ordinarily be such that any motion imparted tothe member27a will be transmitted to the member 44 and the slat 31 which issuspended therefrom. The conical members might also be octagonal incross-section and this modification could be successfully used when thegear 41 is'provided with eight teeth. However, should the slats 31become set at varying angles with respect to-each other, or morespecifically, should they be displaced from their customary parallelpositions for any reason, it is apparent that they may all be rotatedabout their vertical axes until they engage each other and becomesubstantially coplanar. Further rotation of the shaft 36 and member 27awill cause those slats which are not parallel tocome into engagement.Those slats which are in engagement will resist further movement andtend to overcome the frictional engagement between the members 27a and43 even though the member 27a is continually rotated. In this manner itis apparent that devices which are constructed in accordance with thismodification may be quickly and simply assembled and the great care withwhich the slats are now preliminarily set in parallel position need notbe taken inasmuch as by a simple continued. rotation. of. the shaft 36,all of the members 27a will continue to be rotated until all of theslats 31 are in engagement and are substantially coplanar.

' In the modificationv illustrated. in- FIGURES and. 6 Ihave substituteda square shaft 51 for the toothed shaft 36.- The square shaft 51 isadapted to cooperate with and serve as a mounting for a plurality ofradially extending gears 52, which are provided with square holes whichare slightly larger than the shaft 51, and by which they may be slidlongitudinally along the shaft 51.

I. providea plurality of mounting blocks 53' which are provided" with.grooves 54 which engage the lips 22 and of a head. rail arrangement ofthe type described in connection with FIGURES 1 to 3 inclusive and. tobe slid longitudinally. with respect thereto. The mounting block 53is.drilled.to accommodate a vertical shaft 56 to which gear 57 issecured. Gear 57 occupies a generally horizontal position and is inconstant mesh with the gear 52. Overhanginglip- 58 which isformedintegrally with the block 53 serves the same general purpose as themember 37 on the mounting block 24, to-wit, support the shaft The methodof hanging the Venetian- 51', and also serves to retain the gear 52 inconstant mesh with the gear 57. The slat 31 may be supported from theshaft 56 in either of the manners specified in connection with themodifications illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 3 inclusive or FIGURE 4. Atany rate it is apparent that upon rotation of the shaft 51, the gear 52will be rotated as will the gear 57 and shaft 56.and.slat 31. All of themounting blocks 53 may be secured together by f meansof a simple tape orchain arrangement similar to the chain 38 as illustrated in FIGURE 2 sothat the mounting blocks 53 may be moved horizontally along the member10. However, regardless of the position of the-mounting blocks alongtheir path of movement with respect to-the member 10, the slats 31 maybe rotated about their: longitudinal axes.

In the modification illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8- I' have provided adifferent support for the mounting blocks. As illustrated in FIGURE 7 Iprovide a channel member 61 which is provided with lips 62 and 63 whichare positioned in a vertical plane. The mountingv blocks 64-are providedwithgrooves 66 which cooperate with the lips- 62- and 63 insuch a mannerthat the blocks 64 may be moved longitudinally along the member 61. Theblocks 64- are made as illustrated in FIGURES 7 and' 8 and are providedwith vertical ears 67 and68which are, in turn, provided with alignedorifices 69 through which a toothedshaft 71, of the same type as theshaft 36 previously described in connection with FIGURES 1 to 3inclusive hereof, may be mounted. The block 64- is also provided with-.asloping upper wall 721 which accommodates.=a gear: assembly which may beof the type previously described in connection with FIGURES 1 to 3inclusive and its operation need not herein be furthendescribed. Itapparent that this modification is substantially the same as the deviceillustrated in FIGURES 1 to 3 inclusive with the exception, however,that the modification provides for a side mounting of the blocks 64,rather than the top or hanging mounting of the block 24 asillustrated inFIGURES 1 to 3 inclusive. The side mounting as-illustrated in FIGURES 6and 7 renders the controls more easily accessible and also permits aless expensive construction. It is apparent, for example, that the headrail-10, of the type illustrated in FIGURES l to 3 inclusive, is moreexpensive than the rail construction 61 of the type illustrated inFIGURES 7 and 8. The method of moving the blocks 64' horizontally along,the channel 61 is generally that which has previously been describedherein. However, as specifically illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8, I haveeliminated the chain attachment between the blocks: 64 and have provideda different type oflinkage'as illustrated. Each link is provided with abody 76 which is pivotally mounted on the member 64. The body 76 isprovided with an extending arm 77 and a recess 78 which is adapted toaccommodate the arm 77 on the adjacent body 76. The arm. 77 is providedwith an enlargedportion 79 which will engage the walls of the recess 78when the members 64 are separated. The

engagement between the portions 79v and the walls of the recess78.limits.the.separation of the members 64. However, when the members64are urged toward each. other a vertical Venetian blind construction,with severalmodifications, inv which slats may be rotated about theirvertical axes at any position, either open, closed, or partially openedor. closed. It isfurther apparent that these modifications illustrate asimplified form of support whereby the slats are always held in a trulyvertical plane.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No.486,828, filed February 8, 1955 for Vertical Venetian Blind, now PatentNo. 2,869,636, issued January 20, 1959.

I claim:

1. In a vertical Venetian blind, an elongated horizontal support member,a plurality of mounting blocks slidably carried by said support memberfor longitudinal movement relative to said support member, asubstantially horizontal shaft rotatably carried by said support member,means slidably connecting said blocks to said shaft for movementlongitudinally of the shaft, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in eachof said blocks and rotatable about an axis at right angles to the axisof rotation of said shaft, gearing means connecting the vertical shaftin each of said blocks to said horizontal shaft whereby upon rotation ofsaid horizontal shaft said vertical shafts will be rotated, a pluralityof vertical slats, and adjustable means connecting said vertical slatsto said vertical shafts and serving to normally maintain said verticalslates in a predetermined angular position with respect to said verticalshafts, said adjustable means permitting adjustment of the angularposition of each of said slats relative to the vertical shaft to whichit is connected.

2. A vertical Venetian blind as in claim 1 wherein each of said verticalshafts is provided with a flared portion on its lower end, and whereinthe upper end of each of the slats is provided with means frictionallyengaging the flared portion of the vertical shaft to which it isconnected, the weight of the slats serving to increase the frictionbetween the last named means and the flared portions so that the slatswill normally rotate with the vertical shafts.

3. A vertical Venetian blind as in claim 1 together with meansinterconnecting said mounting blocks and serving to limit the spacingbetween the mounting blocks, said last named means including a pluralityof interconnected relatively flexible links, means for pivotallyconnecting each of said links to said mounting blocks, each of the linksbeing in the form of an L-shape and having an opening formed on the endof the arm opposite the shorter leg of the L-shaped arm, the openinglying in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longer leg ofthe L-shaped arm, the L-shaped arm of each of the links being detachablyconnected to another link and being slidably accommodated within theopening of said last named link to permit relative sliding movementbetween the links substantially in line with the longitudinal axes ofthe links, the shorter legs of the L-shaped arms engaging the portionsof the arms forming the openings when the links are extended to limitthe sliding movement between the links.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,386,695 Lister-Torsen Oct. 9, 1945 2,591,775 Bopp Apr. 8, 19522,794,502 Toti June 4, 1957

